Posted on Mon, Feb 2, 2009
Highlights of Pastor Michael's sermon on January 31, 2009 by Susan Bond
Abundant Life or [Not So Puzzling After All]
Calling us to worship with thoughts from Psalm 46 and Hebrews 4, the Holy Spirit quickly was
grabbing my attention through Pastor Michael's selections of Scripture and Song. Singing
"Be still and know I am thy God who healeth thee," I was ready for the sermon that followed:
"For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same
function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of
another" (Romans 12). Letting these words soak in and help me make sense of my own
thoughts and experiences of the week, I "came to" again in time to hear the pastor saying,
"We are part of a bigger picture: the Picture of the Body of Christ.
Every individual piece matters in the big picture just like we each matter to God and to each
other. God Himself is creating this beautiful picture. We are incomplete when there's a missing
piece. One hiding in the box is like a person going through a wilderness experience who won't
see the big picture until he gets out of the box. And just like a puzzle piece in the box is
sometimes being jostled around, we can feel the same way. If you try to put a piece
in the place it doesn't belong, the edges get bent. You are perfect for Your particular God-given
assignment. Seek God until you find your niche. Sometimes you won't find your place until
other pieces are in their place. God is the Master Who will place you where you belong.
Do you ever feel like you are the puzzle piece that is being picked up and then being put back
down again? Use waiting time wisely; until He is ready for you, master your piece. Don't
try to fit where you don't belong. You need to be as spirit-filled as you can be even while
you wait. God is getting you ready to fit you in the place where He wants you. See Psalm 84:4.
Let it be said after all the highs and lows in your life that you were still found praising God.
Continuing from last week's sermon, Pastor Michael preached from Ecclesiastes about
how Solomon spent much of his life in seeking after happiness. He went from partaking of
wine, women, and song to working excessively to expand his bank account. Quoting Eccl.2:10,
"All that my eyes desired, my eyes did not refuse them." His conclusion was that we are
all travellers to our eternal home [the completed puzzle to be seen only when God's grand
design has been completed]. The pastor said, "Bradenton sunsets are child's crayon
drawings compared to heaven's radiance. Solomon's experiences were just shadows.
Contentment comes from a heart of gratitude, from appreciating life's simple pleasures."
Closing thoughts in the sermon came from John 10:10 in which we learn that Jesus came to
give life abundantly. Pastor Michael stepped back in Biblical history to a lesson
in grace that came through the parents of Solomon. Although David and Bathsheba
experienced grievous consequences to their sin, their repentance was met with God's grace,
shown in His love for their son Solomon. God still wants today for His anointing to change the
lives of those who will listen and He wants to use the church [puzzle pieces still being
put into place] to tell of His mercy.
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