If you prefer watching sermon videos, trust this will bless you. It was recorded a few weeks ago and runs for 4.31 minutes.
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“…, people brought the sick into the streets and laid then on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by… and all of them were healed” (Acts 5:15-16).
As you think of the Apostle Peter’s ministry in the book of Acts, what comes to mind? Is it fearlessness, anointing, miracle worker, dynamic preacher?
Yes, all these are true and God used Peter powerfully. Through Peter God healed a crippled (Acts 3:6-7) and a paralyzed man (Acts 9:32-35), raised the dead (Acts 9:36-43), opened prison doors and gates (Acts 5:19, 12:8-10) and brought thousands to salvation [Both Jews and Gentiles](Acts 2:41,4:4,10:44-46). As the opening scripture in this devotional records, people even expected to be healed by having Peter’s shadow fall on them as he passed by.
Popular singer/songwriter Tom Petty passed away last week after a highly successful career. One of Petty’s most loved songs was titled ‘I Won’t Back Down’. Some of the lyrics go like this:
Well, I won’t back down
No, I won’t back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won’t back downNo, I’ll stand my ground
Won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground
While Tom Petty was probably singing about the injustices and human challenges we have to face, the Apostle Paul says something similar regarding the spiritual challenges and battles we encounter as God’s children. He says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand (Ephesians 6:13). The imagery is that of a well-trained soldier, planting his feet firmly on the battle field and refusing to back down. In other words, Paul may be saying, ‘Don’t back down’. Ever!
Introduction to 2 Chronicles 20
This past week I’ve had to pray with people battling overwhelming odds against cancer, children’s health issues, relationship problems, addictions, emotional distress, and many other issues. And of course, concerns about the shortages we face today bring daily challenges. People feel overwhelmed and discouraged. What about you? Are you struggling against overwhelming odds today? In that case, this story taken from 2 Chronicles 20 will definitely inspire you.
As we read 2 Chronicles 20, we find that a coalition of armies had come against King Jehoshaphat and the nation of Judah. It was a strong, vast army (verse 2-4) that brought a sense of terror upon the inhabitants of Judah. King Jehoshaphat realizing the seriousness of the challenge before him, cried in desperation, “We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do…” (verse 12). Maybe you too are in a similar situation?
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
Introduction – The book of Zephaniah was written to warn of impending judgment on Judah. In the midst of the doom however, the book ends with a promise of restoration, forgiveness and blessing. As the book comes to a close, we find the powerful statement mentioned above in chapter 3 verse 17. From this verse we can glean the following 4 encouraging truths.
A Sermon preached at the Peoples Church, Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday, 25th June 2017.
“Don’t be afraid, Mary,… you will… give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31).
The name ‘Jesus’ means ‘The Lord saves’. In the corresponding passage in Matthew’s Gospel, Joseph is also told to give the child “the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (1:21).CONTINUE READING
I had the joy of sharing a message from 2 Kings Chapter 5 at our weekly outreach service last Thursday. It was a blessing to see people open their hearts to the Lord in response to the sermon and many more coming to the altar for prayer. The sermon, based around Naaman seeking God’s help for healing, covered 4 wrong decisions he took. Naaman was at the zenith of his military career but had a disease that was considered horrible at that time. It was leprosy (2 Kings 5:1). As a result of the wrong decisions he took in trying to find an answer, Naaman almost lost out on receiving an amazing miracle.
CONTINUE READING
Welcome to my Sermon/Devotional blog The Preaching Platform. My name is Palitha Jayasooriya and I am a Pastor from Sri Lanka.More About Me
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