Sermon – Page 15 – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

Patience

Most fruitful and ample as it is, patience is filled with endurance and perseverance. As we know it is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Saint James said, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4) The Apostle told us that patience makes us perfect which means to lack nothing. He is saying to ask the Lord for patience which will be given to us.

“You nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another” (Leviticus 19:11)

Mankind shall foremost reckon His creator who is a true and truthful God. if we are to know He is a true God who loves truth, we would be able to tell the truth and live by it as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

The Holy bible teaches us to always speak the truth but not the lie within the life we lead with our parents, elder brothers and sisters, relatives and neighbors in every conversion and discussion saying, “You….., nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. (Leviticus 19:11)

“Emmanuel; God is with us”

Dear Children of God, how are you? How is life at home and at school? Are you being obedient, faithful and brave? Are you helping out your parents, elder brothers and sisters, elderlies at house chorus as well? Do you obey them when they command you to behave and be disciplined at home and at Church? Children, it is a Christians behavior to obey your parents and elder ones. It also pleases God.

Children, when we make God happy and be pleased, He will be present in our lives. He will help us in our hardships, take all the pain and sorrow that happen in our lives. For example, if we have hard time in understanding our education, and pray to Him asking His help, He will make our mind bright and help us understand the course our teacher teach us. If we become very sick and ask His forgiveness, He will heal us. When we get hurt whilst our friends disappoint us, He comforts us and ease our pain.

Liberation

Liberation occurs after the faith of Christianity. We may or may not know we need the freedom unless we are in Christian life. In our Christians journey, where we recognize that we thought is liberty was in fact captivity. It is captivity to our wishes and living to where ever the wind blows. It is our own captivity that we go in the wrong direction, whatever possible direction we could go on.

“He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13)

If there were not things in the world that challenge faith and believe, there would not be talk about endurance. In this generation, we want to be Christians and call God’s name, but seek not to suffer for our Christianity. This is the indication of how alien we are becoming to the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who said “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand (Mark 16:19)

Ahead His miraculous salvation work, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ascended to God’s right hand. In scripted in the gospels of Mark and Luke, “He led them out as far as Bethany, so then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. They worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. They were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.” (Luke 24:50-51, Mark 16:19)

“Come and eat lunch” (John 21:12)

Amid the apostasy era, after His resurrection, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ reveled Himself to the disciples several times. He greeted and made peace, walked, sat and ate with them. At the third of His revelation to the apostles, the Lord came to the sea of Tiberias whilst the apostles Peter, Thomas and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

“Love one another” (John 13:34)

The most powerful and wonderful feeling in the history of mankind is ‘Love.’ It is the reason for our existence since without it, we shall not survive life on earth. Humans are to love one another for it is the command of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is written in the gospel of Saint John as, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

“Enter not into the path of the wicked” (Proverbs 4:14)

One of the biggest reasons God created humans is for them to praise Him and take part of His glory. As rubbing stones will create fire, sin which is evil was first initiated by the devil in the midst of angles. The devil and those who believed his deceptive ideas fall out of grace. The devil used snake to give advice to Adam and Eve to follow the wrong path he took. His advice deceived Adam saying, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” and Eve and lead them to evil deeds. (Genesis 3:4-5)

“Whoever listens to me will dwell safely” (Proverb 1:33)

Humans have the natural ability to use their sense ‘listening’ rather than just hearing, for the better comprehension of discourses. This gift bestowed from God was from the creation of mankind. Every since his existence, man shall listen the word of his creator. Though he defied His law and command, the Holy Father gave His word to save him from eternal fire and thus send His Begotten Son, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our redeemer also taught the word of God, gospel for human race could get life in Him.