14th APRIL 2013
EBCC DWARKA, NEW DELHI
Pastor Nenglian Vualnam started the worship by reading the Holy Scripture (Mathew 11: 28- 30)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
It was then followed by a mass prayer. The congregation sang the hymn: “Muanna Suangpi,” “Honpi zel in aw,” “Suploh kei ning,” and “Zing Ninou Hongsuah chiang,” led by the worship team of the church. The Pastor then delivered the offertory prayer. The Pastor conducted the child dedication ceremony of Muankhum Khuptong S/O Mr & Mrs Thuamzalal Khuptong and Thanggou Naulak S/O Mr & Mrs Thangkhanhau. He read out the Bible verse taken from (1Samuel 1: 27, 28.)
27 “ I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord. And he worshiped the Lord there.”
Sermon from the Pastor:
The Pastor then began his sermon on the topic: Building Relationship. With a quick recapitulation of the previous sermon that is based on building relationship between God and Men and how relationship is measured in the Old Testament and by the Pharisees. Today’s sermon focused on the relationship between men. The story of Jonathan and David clearly portrays how a relationship needs to be. The relationship between David and Jonathan is mentioned in the Bible (1 Samuel 18: 1- 4)
1After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
The Pastor then narrated who David is. David defeated Goliath, who was a giant Philistine Warrior. Then the King Saul asks whose son he is, and David answers, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite” and David was led to stay in the King’s Palace. Though Saul tried to kill David but Jonathan protected him and he is his dearest friend. As seen in the Bible verse, Jonathan loved David as himself, he let him stay, Jonathan made a covenant with David, and He also gave David his military clothes, symbolizing David’s position as the successor to King Saul. This shows that the relationship between David and Jonathan is based on Love. It is a lasting relationship which is free from jealousy. The relationship is based on the love of other as oneself. How do you reflect yourself? Is your relationship with others same as that of Jonathan and David? Is it your relationship based on Love or is it a lasting relationship?
Relationship with others can be destroyed by the following factors:-
1. Rejection:- The story of Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17) is a good example of how rejection of other as well as to oneself is a danger. Ahithophel’s advice was rejected by Absalom and due to this rejection he hanged himself.
2. Rebellion:- The story of Cain and Abel(Genesis 4) shows how being rebellious to God led to jealousy and which in turn caused the killing of his own brother Abel by Cain.
We should not reject others as well as our God. There are times when we think we are rejected by others as well as by God. But we should always look upon God beyond that though. How does God look upon us? What are the plans that God had in our lives? We should also search what God wants from us. So that we can have a good relationship with others and never get the feeling that we were rejected. Being rebellious to others as well as to God can be overcome through forgiveness. An everlasting as well as a good relationship from God is:-
1. To have a like- minded relationship with others.
2. Relationship based on Love
3. Relationship that is a lasting one.
The Pastor then concluded his sermon with a word of prayer. It was then followed by singing the song “Jesu neih hinna nuam” and the service was concluded with a benedictory by Upa. Tuanmuanthang.
P.S- As the Local Baptist Mission Committee is going to visit Punjab (Batiala) mission field from April 19 to 21, let us remember them and their mission in our prayer. With the hope of God’s Blessings and Guidance, our next Sunday worship for 21st April 2013 will be held at the usual time (11 am), at the same place. It will be a Sunday School class led by Upa T. Kaithang and he will be teaching the text Mark 4-6.
By- Manthianching
Media Team
