Sermon Theme
They have been busy the past year, flying all over the globe He is now in India, working to secure in the next 12 months the 4th Free Trade Agreement since the current Australia government came to office a little over a year ago. She is said to be the government’s best performer in its first year, strongly representing on the world stage, especially at the United nations where Australia has for now a a seat on the Security Council.
Andrew Robb is Australia’s Trade Minister and Julie Bishop our Foreign relations minister. At least for Australia, each of them can be said to be ‘history makers’
We know today that in Martin Luther King Jr’s life & death we see one of God’s history makers I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!”
As Christians, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we in Christ are ALL God’s history makers “Well it’s true today that when people stand, With the fire of God, and the truth in hand We’ll see miracles, we’ll see angels sing, We’ll see broken hearts making history Yes it’s true and I believe it, We’re living for you” History makers – Written by Martin Smith ©1996 Curious? Music UK
So… how is that realized in our lives wherever we find ourselves on this earth?
We face a fresh year which could well bring us personal tragedy and trauma How do we face what comes our way in a world still under God’s curse on account of human rebellion?
Sermon outline
- THEY UNDERSTOOD THEIR TIMES
- LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS
- GOD’S HISTORY MAKERS TODAY
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Sermon Outline
Readings
2 Peter 3 (NIV84)
1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
2I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
15Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.
18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Text
1 Chronicles 12:22–40 (NIV84)
22Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.
23These are the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the Lord had said:
24men of Judah, carrying shield and spear—6,800 armed for battle;
25men of Simeon, warriors ready for battle—7,100;
26men of Levi—4,600,
27including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, with 3,700 men,
28and Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 officers from his family;
29men of Benjamin, Saul’s kinsmen—3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul’s house until then;
30men of Ephraim, brave warriors, famous in their own clans—20,800;
31men of half the tribe of Manasseh, designated by name to come and make David king—18,000;
32men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;
33men of Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;
34men of Naphtali—1,000 officers, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears;
35men of Dan, ready for battle—28,600;
36men of Asher, experienced soldiers prepared for battle—40,000;
37and from east of the Jordan, men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon—120,000.
38All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king.
39The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them.
40Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
