The service was opened by Worship leader with a prayer and Scripture reading from Revelation 21: 1-4
Worship songs:
- Na Thupi Lua (How Great Thou Art)
- Thou Aw Ka Kha Kipak A Om
- Thupina Nang A
- Tanglai Lumsuang (Rock of Ages)
# Offertory prayer for offerings and tithes was done by Elder Zabiak
#Announcement was made regarding the BYF Election which is to be held on 14th March 2021
# Pastor Thuamminlian performed the child dedication ceremony of:
Baby Vung Elizabeth d/o Pa Thawnkhanmanga and Nu Chinglianniang
#Pastor Khankham read out from Philippians 4: 6-7 which was followed by the monthly Pastoral Prayer for the month of March.
#Sermon: Pastor Thuamminlian Guite
“Who was Judas Iscariot?”
- Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. He was introduced or described in the Bible by various names or adjectives. In Mark 3:19 he is called as the one who ‘betrayed Jesus’, in Luke 6:16 as a ‘traitor’, in John 6:70 as ‘the Devil’, in John 12: 6 as a ‘thief’.
- While calling or giving different names to Judas Iscariot, we should look back and think about ourselves and ask if we are really worthy to be his children.
- In I Timothy 1:15 we find that Jesus Christ came to save the sinners and Paul calls himself as the worst amongst them. He came to save each and every one of us because He loved us first. He accepts us in our worst and good times. Even when we fail to follow his footsteps, he still chooses us. Therefore let’s look back and retrospect on our actions.
- In John 13:18 Jesus says that He knows each and every disciple of his. And that he is doing so that whatever is written in the scripture can be fulfilled.
- Pastor compares two disciples of Christ namely Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter. Peter was also one of the twelve. He is always mentioned first wherever the names of the twelve are mentioned in the Bible. He was always willing to give his life for the Lord. But he also gave into temptation and disowned the Lord three times. This shows that among the disciples even the first (Peter) and the last(Judas Iscariot) in the list of the disciples are both equally sinners in the eyes of the Lord. They were both loved and chosen by the Lord in spite of their flaws. He even gave both of them second chances. To which both of them responded differently. In Luke 22: 61-62, we can see that Peter repented for his actions then and there itself when Jesus turned and looked back at him. His stare / look were enough for Peter to repent for his actions.
- In John 13:2, 26 we find that the Lord gave Judas a second chance as well when he gave that piece of bread dipped in the dish/wine. This signifies that one only gives a piece of bread dipped in the dish/wine only to those who one considers as one’s own friend or close one. So here the Lord wanted to reach out to him wanting to be his friend but Judas Iscariot did not pay any heed and insisted to take the dark path.
- When we look at Judas Iscariot, we at times consider ourselves to be better than him in many ways that questions like why the Lord would choose this person to be one of his disciples when he knew he was going to betray him in the end often crosses our minds. But when we look at all of Jesus’ disciples, from Peter to Judas Iscariot (the first on the list to the last on the list) they all were sinners and yet he loved them all equally. This shows that it was Jesus who chose them first.
- So the most important question we need to ask ourselves is would we choose Jesus back who chose us first in times of our adversities and darkest moments? Would we repent and ask for his forgiveness and mercy again and again when we have lost our ways or parted ways from Him.
- Both Judas and Peter had their own struggles and troubles in following Jesus and gave in to temptations. One must be like Peter though he fell into temptation and lost his ways, he found his way around. He was sensitive towards the Lord’s words that just by the look of Christ when he disowned him thrice in front of people he realized his mistakes and repented there and then. One must not be like Judas who denied the opportunities given to him by the Lord to turn away from his sins when there was a chance to do so.
- In Mark 16: 7 we find that the Lord had sent them a message to come to Galilee where the ministry of discipleship began. This signifies that the Lord has been waiting for us to start over with him in being disciples for him. He wants us to return to him and start over where we have left off. He is patiently waiting for us to turn to him and makes things right with him even when we sell him off like Judas Iscariot or reject him like Peter. May the Lord bless us all!
#The service was concluded with the Lord’s Prayer led by Elder Ngulminthang.
