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ROANNE E NAIDOO

DIVINE SERVICE Opening Prayer Scripture Reading: Matthew 24: 3- 14, 23 -26, 30 31

Skirt part of the sermon Charlene: Samantha: Our Bible is true! All of these signs are taking place. There can be no dispute about this. Jesus is coming soon. Its almost at the door. One other last day sign is that the gospel will be preached to the entire world before Jesus comes. Im glad that Im a Seventh Day Adventist because my church is helping to fulfil the signs. It all started with Pentecost 98. Youre right; with satellite evangelism the gospel will even reach the darkest places on Africa in THEIR spoken language. We are the pioneers in this field. It is an honourable feeling. The saving message is what we should die for.

Efaniel: Charlene:

ALL THREE: (kneeling down) We love you Jesus. We want to go home! End of skit Tokyo International Choir: Redemption Draweth Nigh Lyrics: 1st Stanza Years of time have come and gone since I first heard it told, How Jesus would come again some day If back then it seemed so real Then I just cant help but feel How much closer His coming is today Signs of the times are everywhere Theres a brand new feeling in the air Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky Lift up your head redemption draweth nigh Wars and strife on every hand and violence fills the land Still some people doubt Hell ever come again But the Word of God is true; Hell redeem Hs chosen few Dont lose hope soon Christ Jesus will descend Signs of the times are everywhere Theres a brand new feeling in the air Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky Lift up your head redemption draweth nigh Life up your head redemption draweth nigh

Chorus

2nd Stanza

Chorus

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Sermon John 14:6 reads: Jesus said to them, I am the way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. A person can go to heaven without wealth, health, fame, learning, culture or beauty. But a person cant go to heaven without Christ. I chose Jesus because He chose ME first. Barnyards and animal stalls are smelly, dirty paces. But in such a place, God chose to make His fleshy appearance on earth the last place any of us would have chosen. A little baby lay in a manger among the animals wrapped in cloth strips is a far cry from the clean homes we know and enjoy. When he was only 33, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away> He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He as nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing, the only property He had on earth. After He died, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend. I LOVE YOU JESUS! Jesus is called Emmanuel GOD WITH US. If God could stoop to the level of a stable, surely He stands ready to meet is in all the experiences of our lives. What has Jesus done for His people? He descended to earth that we might ascend to heaven. He became poor that we might become rich. He was born that we be born again. He became a servant that we might become sons. He had no home that we might have in heaven. He was hungry that we might be fed. He was thirsty that we might have a have the Springs of Salvation. He was made weary that we might find rest. He was stripped that we might be clothed. He was forsaken that we might be accepted. He was sad that we might be glad. He was bound that we might go free. He was made sin that we might be righteous. He died that we might live and brother and sisters, He will come down that we may be caught up in heaven. From this we can surely see that as Christians we are rich. In Christ we have, a love that can never be fathomed. A life that can never die, a peace that can never be understood, a rest that can never be disturbed, a joy that can never be diminished, a hope that can never be disappointed, a glory that can never be clouded, a happiness that can ever be interrupted, a light that can never be extinguished, a strength that can never be overcome, a beauty that can never be marred, a purity that can never be defiled and resources that can never be exhausted. This is Jesus Christ the MAN, THE TRUTH, THE WAY AND THE LIFE. The ancient world boasted of the seven wonders: the pyramids of Egypt, the hanging gardens of Babylon, the temple of the goddess Diana at Ephesus, the lighthouse at Alexandria, Egypt, the Colossus in the harbour at Rhodes, the statue god Zeus at Olympia and the tomb of the Persian King Halicarnassus. Of all these ancient wonders, in the pyramids are still standing, all the wonders have crumbled, along with the ancient world powers whose accomplishments they memorialised. But another wonder from the ancient world is still very much alive today. This wonder is still more significant than all seven of these ancient landmarks out together. This is the wonder of the empty tomb of Jesus at Jerusalem.

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When the body of Jesus was placed in the tomb, the forces of evil seemed to be victorious at last. But Jesus was raised on the 3rd day. This resurrection proved that He was more powerful that sin and death and all other negative forces that Satan uses against us. Wonder of wonders, Jesus lives! And His dynamic power is available to all who place their faith and trust in Him. We have absolutely no excuse for not knowing who Jesus is. He left us with so much. Although our Lord and Saviour is in heaven above we have his WORD. John 1:1 says, In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 says, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We had the Word in the flesh now we have the Bible Gods Word. The Bible has made a profound impression on all who have taken the time to read it. If the Bible could speak for itself, this is what it would say: - I am the Bible, Gods wonderful library. I am always and above all the truth. To the weary pilgrim, I am a strong staff. To the one who sits in darkness, I am glorious light. To those who stumble beneath heavy burdens, I am sweet rest. To him who has lost his way, I am a safe guide. To those who are sick in sin, I am healing strength and forgiveness. To the discouraged, I am a glad message of hoop. To those who are distressed and tossed about by the storms of life, I am an anchor, sure and steadfast. To those who search for salvation, I reveal then Saviour of the world I am the Bible. Jesus gave us the Bible. Satans plan was to destroy the human race. But Jesus came to save and gave us His word. One of its purposes is to give us hope. It is like a roadmap directing everyone who reads it, how to go to heaven. The Scriptures reveal Jesus as Saviour It has the greatest love story, not only written, but also, EVER LIVED. The end is near and if we are not so happy about it or if we are afraid of it then we should ask ourselves the question why? There is no other name like Jesus, tis the dearest name we know, this the angels joy in heaven, tis the Christians joy below. How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believers ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds and dries away his fear. When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride. I see thee not, I hear thee not, yet art thou oft with me; the earth has never so dear a spot as where I meet with thee. Jesus the very thought of Thee, with sweetness fills my breast, but sweeter far they face to see and in Thy presence rest. Great things He hath taught us, great things He has done and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son, but purer and higher and greater will be, our wonder our transport, when Jesus we see. What a joy it will be when we see Jesus break through the clouds. It WILL be a joy. I guess it depends on us! I am in Church today, because this is my way of showing the world whom I have chosen to be my Saviour. I want people to know that I am a Christian a proud one too! My place is booked here because in church I can praise and honour my Father in Heaven. My church is my dynamo that charges my will with power. My church is an equipping house that offers me a wellfitted yolk for drawing lifes loads. My church is not a place to dodge lifes difficulties. It is a place that furnishes strength and courage to meet them.
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I believe in the church in spite of its imperfections. The church will never be perfect in this world. It is made up of people struggling to do Gods will but people who are human with their weaknesses and sin. I believe in the church in spite of its limitations and handicaps. Sometimes the church is hindered by lack of vision and commitment. But in spite of all this, the church is the only agency in the world that provides a place where people can gather to worship God. I believe in the church because it is an agency of Gods spirit an instrument of the eternal. It has changes through the years, and it will continue to change. It will make mistakes. But the church is still Gods chosen vessel for carrying on his work of redemption in the world. The world needs to know who Jesus is. But before we try to tell others, Jesus ought to be a part of our lives first. The world will be convinced of HIM, if we are convinced of Him. A coca-cola advert says, Coke adds life. I say, CHRIST is life! Without Him, we ARE nothing and without Him we can DO NOTHING. They say that life is a highway, and its milestones are the years, and now and then theres a tollgate where you buy your way with tears. Tell me friends, what will matter a 100 years from now if you owned 10 000 acres or just a broken plough? If you bought your suits in Paris and your clothes in Italy or your clothes were made in patches as the bed quilts used to be? Whether you lived in a mansion with the finest broadlooms laid, if you had a private chauffer, butler, cook and maid or if you lived in a cottage with your health gone on the skids, out of work and with no money, just your wife and a handful of kids? Yes theres more to life than living, more to those who will believe, more in store laid up in heaven if the Saviour will receive. Whether we are lost forever or to Jesus here we bow this is what will make the difference a 100 years from now. Heaven is for everyone. The only hurdle in our way from getting there is ourselves our PRIDE. Its no use pointing fingers at each other. We need to look at each other first. Drug addicts and alcoholics dont see themselves as this they are willing to face the truth. Everyone else can see that these people have a problem but until they can see it for themselves, they feel that theres nothing wrong with them. Pride is a disease worse than this. It affects everyone on planet earth. The big problem is that very few are willing to admit it. We always wee pride in others and other can see it in us but we never face up to the reality in our own lives. Where are you? God asked Adam. God knew where he was, but He wanted to be sure that Adam knew where he was. When God asks us the question Where are you? does it embarrass us to give an honest answer? Have we really stopped to consider where we are living spiritually? Some of us who cherish honour and recognition would have to admit, we are living on POPULARITY PLAZA. For those of us who hunger for recognition and applause of the multitude, our address might ne on ACHIEVEMENT AVENUE. The desire to move in high social circles and to be looked upon as being experiences in the ways of the world might mean that we have landed on SOPHISTICATED CIRCLE. To live for clothes, cars, furniture, gold and silver show that we dwell on the THOROUGHFARE OF THINGS. When we get caught up in the pursuit pleasure and spend our time hunting thrills to lift us from boredom, we frequent
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ENTERTAINMENT EXPRESSWAY. Or when resentment or revenge festers in our souls, we have settled in a haunted house on HATE HIGHWAY. Do you recognise any of these as the street on which you live? 2 Timothy 3:1-5 says, but know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanders, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! Jesus is the way. He is coming again soon! God is asking us for full surrender. We need to acknowledge that we cant save ourselves. Only God can. Lets us give the Holy Spirit a chance to change and empower the surrendered life. Surrender happens when we look at Calvary and see Jesus dying there in our place on the cross. A place that should have been ours! It takes place when that cross becomes more important than our pride and when we decide once and for all that we dont want to wound our Saviour again. Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and he with Me. Let us humble ourselves before the Lord lest we find ourselves on the road paved with pride that leads to hell, for Jesus will soon be saying, READY OR NOT HERE I COME! Brethren, signs of the times are everywhere. Keep your eyes upon the eastern skies; lift up your head for redemption draweth nigh. Closing Hymn: Trust and Obey Closing Prayer: Roanne Naidoo

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