Title: Unity in Christ

 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people;  for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct. This is good and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the truth.  For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus,  who gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved, and that is why I was sent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to 

proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying; I am telling the truth! – 1Timothy 2:1-7 (Good News Bible)

 

In the above Bible passage the Apostle Paul admonishes that first of all prayers …and thanksgiving be offered for all people (no matter their culture, colour), kings, all people in authority. As a church, we are endeavour every Sunday in our meetings to offer prayers for all nations, leaders etc in line with this instruction. So that we all can live a quiet and peaceful live with all reverence towards God and with proper conduct.  This clearly means that the actions of leaders in authority directly impacts on the outcomes that all people experiences. 

 

As a church, we can testify to the truth in this passage. Years ago, at the inception of this church, it was much more of a struggle to conduct church service having to set up and set down equipment and materials of worship in a community centre. But after a visit by Rev Tom and the creation of the space we now use in the upper room at the St Faiths Church House, where we have been since 2015, our ability to worship God has been greatly enhanced. We look forward to even bigger space and opportunities to worship God better in the future.

 

As Paul instructed Timothy, to offer thanksgiving, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you leaders for what God has done through you and continue to do through you in your diverse leadership positions and capacities. What your are doing in the community and our nation, is good and it pleases God our saviour. 

 

Furthermore, Paul says in verse 4 of that passage that God want everyone to be saved and to come to know the truth.  Our mission in this parish is “to promote love—the kind of love shown by those whose thoughts are pure, who do what they know is right, and whose faith in God is real.” Our charity objectives are: the propagation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the alleviation of poverty (of the body, soul and spirit).

Paul affirms the truth in verses 2:5-6 that “There is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings (of all cultures, colour, countries, continents, tribes, etc) together, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself to redeem the whole human race…”

 

Among us today are people from many nations of the world including Europe, Africa, America etc. What binds all together is the truth that God want everyone to be saved and He has made a way of salvation through His son Jesus the Christ. Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is the purpose of this gathering – to celebrate our diversity but much more importantly to celebrate our unity in Christ Jesus and the hope of everlasting life with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Today, I invite you to give your life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour if you have not already done so. If Christ is already your Lord and saviour, I encourage you to continue in the faith steadfastly. God bless you.