The value of the Gospel

Sunday service, Dietmar Joosten, 29 Oct 2017

James 1:2-4

2 Let it be all joy to you, my brothers, when you undergo tests of every sort;

3 Because you have the knowledge that the testing of your faith gives you the power of going on in hope;

4 But let this power have its full effect, so that you may be made complete, needing nothing.

Do you experience this joy in trials and tests?

There was a father who wanted to teach his son the value of your life. He asked him to take a certain stone and go to the marketplace. If somebody asked him the price he should say nothing but only raise two fingers and listen to what the person offered for the stone. He took the stone and went to the marketplace, where somebody asked him the price of the stone and the boy said nothing but only raised two fingers. The person responded that they would gladly buy the stone for R20. He went back and told his dad. Then his dad sent him to the museum and told him to go to a certain person there and show him the stone. If he ask him for a price, he should once again simply raise two fingers without saying anything. He went and when he was asked for the price he raised two fingers. The person responded that it was such a rare beautiful stone that he would be willing to pay R20,000 for it. Again the boy took the stone and went home and told his dad. Next his dad sent him to a well-known jeweler and told him to do the same. When the jeweler saw the precious stone he marveled at its beauty and quality. He asked for a price and the boy simply raised two fingers as his father instructed him. The jeweler exclaimed, “Yes, I’ll buy it for R2 million”

Some regard the Gospel as cheap while others have seen its worth and recognised its value, and are willing to sell all to obtain the Pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46).

When you look at the world through a red glass then everything is red and if you look through a blue glass everything is blue.

Has sin changed the way you look at God’s work? In the beginning nothing was too difficult to do for the Lord. What is it like today? Can you still be corrected? Is there joy in your daily living?

How can trials make us joyful? But when you’ve gone through it then you will know how.

Do good to others even if they are not of your family or race.

A certain white farmer took a black preacher along to his friend’s farm. He introduced the black preacher and then the other farmer said to the black preacher, “are you sure you are going to heaven?” The preacher answered, “yes for Jesus has washed my sins away and I have placed my trust in Him”. The farmer answered, “if you are going to heaven then I don’t want to go there”. The preacher answered him, “sir if you are going to hell you will find even more of my people there!”

A certain Rev Mathunjwa had two boys. First the one got sick and died and then the other one too. They knew that someone had poisoned their children. The parents were devastated and wanted to throw in the towel and stop preaching the Gospel. After one sermon, a young man approached the preacher to speak to him privately. He was broken and confessed that he had killed his sons. Rev Mathunjwa forgave him. This young man got converted and became a preacher of the Gospel. This gave Rev Mathunjwa new courage to carry on, for he realised that even the death of his children worked out for the good and furthering of the Gospel.

What is the Gospel worth to you?

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German translation
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French translation
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